Cut-out for telephones



(No Model.)

A. WILLIAMS & J. M. GANNO'N.

GUT-OUT FOR TELEPHONE'S.

No. 291,825. Patented Jam-8, 1884.

wnunssm 222 011; v W 6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN XVILLIAMS AND JOSEPH M. GANNON, OF NEGA'UNEE, )IIOHIGAX.

CUT-OUT FOR TELEFHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,825, dated January 8, 1884.

Application filed September 22, 1883. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, AUSTIN WILLmirs and JOSEPH M. GANNON, of Negaunee, in the county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Out-Out for Telephones, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved device for cutting out anumber of telephone-wires to prevent them from being burned and destroyed by lightning.

The invention consists of a swinging board or strip carrying a series of metal strips connected with the line-wires, which board can be so adjusted that its metal strips close the circuit between the line-wires or between the line-wires and ground-wires, whereby all the lines can be cut out and grounded simultaneously, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a face view of our improved telephone cutout. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional elevation of the same.

On the surface of a baseboard, A, two end pieces, B, are fastened, to project from the same, and to the said end pieces two longitudinal pieces or sides, O O, are fastened. To the inner surface of the side 0 as many strips D are fastened as there are telephone-lines, which strips D are connected with the line-Wires E. On the side O a metal plate, D, is fastened, which is connected with ground-wires F. On the inner end of each strip D a spring-strip, G, is fastened, and to the inner edge of the plate D a series of springstrips, G, are fastened, the free end of each of which strips G or G rests against the strips D or plate D. In the end pieces, B, a strip or board, H, is pivoted, which is provided at each end with a projecting pintle, J, provided at the outer end with a handle, which pintles project through segmental guide-slots K in the end pieces. On the outer surface of one piece, B, two latches, L, are pivoted, each provided with a notch, M, into which the pintle J is adapted to pass. Studs or pins N project from the outer surfaces of the end pieces, which studs or pins prevent the latches L from dropping too low.

O11 the upper edge of the pivoted board H as many segmental metal strips 0 are secured as there are telephone-lines, each of which strips is connected with a line-wire, E, which line-wires are provided with coils b to permit of swinging the board H.

The operation is as follows: XVhen the circuits of all the lines are to be closed, the strip or board H is swung in such a manner that the ends of the metal strips 0 pass between strips D and the springs Or, the said strips 0 connecting the line-wires E, the strips D, and the line-wires E. If the lines are all to be cut out and the circuits broken, the strip or board H is swung toward the opposite side, 0, so that the ends of the metal strips O pass between the plate D and the springs G, thereby closing the circuit between the ground-wires F and the line-wires E. If a stroke of lightning passes into any one of the wires IE, it passes through the strips 0 and the ground-wires F, and is conducted off, and thus prevents the lightning from destroying the line-wires or the coils in the instruments. The device can be connected with any number of line-wires to cut them all out simultaneously.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a telephone cut-out, the combination, with the side pieces, O O, having curved slots K, and the end pieces, B, having metal strip secured to them, and connected, respectively, to a ground and line wire, of the board H, pivoted to the side pieces, and provided with pintles working in the curved slots of the end pieces, and the curved strips 0, secured to the end of the board H, and each connected to a ground-wire, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a telephone cut-out, the combination, with the sides 0 O, and the end pieces, B, of the plate D, strips D, the springelips G G, the line-wires E E, ground-wires F, the swinging board H, the curved metal strips 0 thereon, the pintles J, passing through slots on the end piece, B, and of the latches L, substantially as herein shown and described.

AUSTIN WILLIAMS.

JOSEPH M. GAXNOX.

XVitnesscs:

CHAS. M. Fnos'r, MARK Ermo'rr.

ICO 

